EU Commissioner Cancels Serbia Visit Over Mladic Funeral Controversy

The European Union's enlargement commissioner has canceled a planned visit to Serbia due to controversy surrounding the funeral of convicted Bosnian Serb war criminal Ratko Mladic.

The EU warned that Serbia's public commemorations for Mladic risk undermining its relationship with the bloc and that the funeral will be a very important test for Belgrade's EU membership bid. Serbia's President Aleksandar Vučić dismissed the EU's criticism as stupid, as usual. Mladic, 84, died while serving a life sentence in The Hague for genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity during the 1992-1995 Bosnian war.

His remains were brought to Belgrade on a government plane. Plans for a ceremonial reception and state funeral have sparked anger in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia, and Croatia. Denis Becirovic, chairman of Bosnia and Herzegovina's presidency, stated that a state ceremony for Mladic amounts to glorifying a convicted war criminal and is a direct blow to the values of the United Nations.

Slovenian Foreign Minister Tone Kajzer criticized the decision to honor Mladic, stating it would not improve regional relations. A commemoration for Mladic opened at the House of the Serbian Army in Belgrade, though without state or military honors and with no serving officials in attendance. Red Star Belgrade has been fined 90,000 euros by UEFA and banned from selling tickets to away fans for their next European match after supporters glorified Mladic during a game. The club was sanctioned for inappropriate chanting and racist and/or discriminatory behaviour.